Each year, critics and fanboys eventually start arguing over which summer blockbuster is the best of the season. It's probably too early to start that conversation, but it's unlikely any other major summer release will equal "X-Men: Days of Future Past" for screenwriting craft, characterization or complexity.

It is entirely possible we have exhausted the potential of the mainstream super-hero movie. I say "mainstream" because it will always be possible for some daring storyteller to do something that turns the genre upside down.

It was inevitable that Blue Sky/20th Century Fox would make a sequel to "Rio," a modest hit in 2011 that earned almost $500 million worldwide. That's what studios do: milk each intellectual property for as much box-office revenue as possible.

The Atlanta Film Festival runs from March 28 to April 6 with most events taking place at the Plaza Theatre or 7 Stages theatre. This year's festival offers dozens of narrative and documentary features showcasing the diversity of the global independent film movement as well as a variety of film-related events intended to support Georgia's indie scene.